BMW M140i stolen off driveway - Cheltenham
Discussion
LocoBlade said:
Thats some jumped up salesman basically lying to make a sale though I'm guessing, not something you've seen BMW themselves advertise as a feature?
There's mention of Connected Drive being a tracking or security feature here for instance:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/connec...
Given that I’d already signed for the car and put down a sizeable deposit, then asked him to fit a tracker, I can’t see how it helped him “make the sale”. There's mention of Connected Drive being a tracking or security feature here for instance:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/connec...
Gavia said:
LocoBlade said:
Thats some jumped up salesman basically lying to make a sale though I'm guessing, not something you've seen BMW themselves advertise as a feature?
There's mention of Connected Drive being a tracking or security feature here for instance:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/connec...
Given that I’d already signed for the car and put down a sizeable deposit, then asked him to fit a tracker, I can’t see how it helped him “make the sale”. There's mention of Connected Drive being a tracking or security feature here for instance:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/connec...
The point is a salesman did what salesmen do best and strung you a line rather than this being anything BMW themselves promised and failed to deliver on.Incidentally on the alarm front - get one that is connected to the Police. It will cost more and there will be a subscription cost, but otherwise you're leaving it up to your neighbours to respond.
NYE just gone I was at a house party where close to midnight someone got a call from their house alarm (they had one that was connected to their house phone) saying it was going off. They phoned their local Police (this person was about 2 hours drive away from their house at this point) and were told that they don't respond to random alarms without confirmation of a break in.
In the end he managed to get a hold of someone to check the house and it turned out to be a false alarm, but you want this sort of stuff to not have to rely on your interaction to mobilise a response. If it costs a few hundred a year to ensure a Police response to a break in, I'd say that's worth it.
NYE just gone I was at a house party where close to midnight someone got a call from their house alarm (they had one that was connected to their house phone) saying it was going off. They phoned their local Police (this person was about 2 hours drive away from their house at this point) and were told that they don't respond to random alarms without confirmation of a break in.
In the end he managed to get a hold of someone to check the house and it turned out to be a false alarm, but you want this sort of stuff to not have to rely on your interaction to mobilise a response. If it costs a few hundred a year to ensure a Police response to a break in, I'd say that's worth it.
Squadrone Rosso said:
Sorry if this has been answered but can’t see it if not?
Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
What's smart water?Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 19th January 13:39
jimPH said:
Squadrone Rosso said:
Sorry if this has been answered but can’t see it if not?
Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
What's smart water?Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 19th January 13:39
Depending on application you either mark your property with it so it's traceable to you or it gets squirted on the thief marking them & their clothes linking them to your property.
Police routinely look at property/prisoners they bring in for it as it shows up under UV light.
https://www.smartwater.com/news/smartwater-chosen-...
Since I also live near to the OP/Cheltenham, I therefore will also look out for the OP’s car.
I am reminded of a local car dealer, when his girlfriend, who was driving a high spec Range Rover, was tailed by the police along the M5 motorway to the couple’s rural home. Upon her/their arrival, the police were confronted with two identical cars parked on the couple’s driveway, both with the same identical number plates.
Surely in the OP’s situation, no car thief is going to be so stupid to drive around with the already reported stolen car’s number plates. Would the stolen car not now have prearranged cloned number plates, and if so how would the stolen car be visually recognisable.
I am reminded of a local car dealer, when his girlfriend, who was driving a high spec Range Rover, was tailed by the police along the M5 motorway to the couple’s rural home. Upon her/their arrival, the police were confronted with two identical cars parked on the couple’s driveway, both with the same identical number plates.
Surely in the OP’s situation, no car thief is going to be so stupid to drive around with the already reported stolen car’s number plates. Would the stolen car not now have prearranged cloned number plates, and if so how would the stolen car be visually recognisable.
Every UK custody suite has a UV gate which lights up smart water residue.
The product can be “coded” to your individual property/postcode.
It’s almost impossible to remove from your person, hence theives hate it.
It's a UV marker with a unique code linked to you.
Depending on application you either mark your property with it so it's traceable to you or it gets squirted on the thief marking them & their clothes linking them to your property.
Police routinely look at property/prisoners they bring in for it as it shows up under UV light.
https://www.smartwater.com/news/smartwater-chosen-...
The product can be “coded” to your individual property/postcode.
It’s almost impossible to remove from your person, hence theives hate it.
vonhosen said:
jimPH said:
Squadrone Rosso said:
Sorry if this has been answered but can’t see it if not?
Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
What's smart water?Did your house have an alarm that was switched on?
We’re in a new build. Like you, upgraded locks & handles etc.
Also got ADT in addition to the builder fit Alarm and fitted a cage around the Alarm controll unit indoors.
Glass remains vulnerable so considering a security film for French doors.
The more layers you have, the harder it becomes for thieves.
Smart water is great as thieves hate it. Datatag for Cars too.
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 19th January 13:39
Depending on application you either mark your property with it so it's traceable to you or it gets squirted on the thief marking them & their clothes linking them to your property.
Police routinely look at property/prisoners they bring in for it as it shows up under UV light.
https://www.smartwater.com/news/smartwater-chosen-...
Wings said:
Since I also live near to the OP/Cheltenham, I therefore will also look out for the OP’s car.
I am reminded of a local car dealer, when his girlfriend, who was driving a high spec Range Rover, was tailed by the police along the M5 motorway to the couple’s rural home. Upon her/their arrival, the police were confronted with two identical cars parked on the couple’s driveway, both with the same identical number plates.
Surely in the OP’s situation, no car thief is going to be so stupid to drive around with the already reported stolen car’s number plates. Would the stolen car not now have prearranged cloned number plates, and if so how would the stolen car be visually recognisable.
Is your second paragraph missing a part of the story? It feels a bit like you’re setting us up to tell us something, but haven’t I am reminded of a local car dealer, when his girlfriend, who was driving a high spec Range Rover, was tailed by the police along the M5 motorway to the couple’s rural home. Upon her/their arrival, the police were confronted with two identical cars parked on the couple’s driveway, both with the same identical number plates.
Surely in the OP’s situation, no car thief is going to be so stupid to drive around with the already reported stolen car’s number plates. Would the stolen car not now have prearranged cloned number plates, and if so how would the stolen car be visually recognisable.
Gavia said:
Is your second paragraph missing a part of the story? It feels a bit like you’re setting us up to tell us something, but haven’t
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates. Wings said:
Gavia said:
Is your second paragraph missing a part of the story? It feels a bit like you’re setting us up to tell us something, but haven’t
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates. Im on a facebook page "stolen cars in the midlands" anyway the police have said that this is what they normally do or park it out the way.
Q5 stolen the other morning and was found down a side street an hour later, member of the public spotted it as the owner had said about the baby seats being in the back.
Cool story I know.
Smart water does seem a good way to go.
Wings said:
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates.
I’m still confused. Your story had two cars with the same plates on the same drive. How does that correlate with stealing one of the cars and then putting dodgy plates on it? Not being funny, I’m just not getting the point at all. Wings said:
I am reminded of a local car dealer, when his girlfriend, who was driving a high spec Range Rover, was tailed by the police along the M5 motorway to the couple’s rural home. Upon her/their arrival, the police were confronted with two identical cars parked on the couple’s driveway, both with the same identical number plates.
I don't get this 
cossy400 said:
Wings said:
Gavia said:
Is your second paragraph missing a part of the story? It feels a bit like you’re setting us up to tell us something, but haven’t
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates. Im on a facebook page "stolen cars in the midlands" anyway the police have said that this is what they normally do or park it out the way.
Q5 stolen the other morning and was found down a side street an hour later, member of the public spotted it as the owner had said about the baby seats being in the back.
Cool story I know.
Smart water does seem a good way to go.
Police custody suits wont pick up SW on scroats walking in via scanners if it doesn't rub off.
Gavia said:
Wings said:
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates.
I’m still confused. Your story had two cars with the same plates on the same drive. How does that correlate with stealing one of the cars and then putting dodgy plates on it? Not being funny, I’m just not getting the point at all. I read this as person driving legitimate car followed home, for some unknown reason, by police only to find a car identical to their own, with the same number plate on their drive. Like me coming home to find a clone of my own car on my own drive....
Maybe this was some insurance fraud thing (one car insured covering two identical cars) but not sure how this is relevant to this thread ?
Sorry to hear this OP, I had my car stolen in a similar way 18 months ago and then just before Christmas an attempted burglary.
We too have gone for an ADT system (Just waiting for the engineers to come and fit it) which is monitored and increased other security. Ive got a disklok steering wheel cover and the antijam version of Tracker fitted. My CCTV on the second attempt got some smashing footage of the Vauxhall Insignia (Cloned plates and stolen from the next village up from us) Driving the scumbag who attempted to break in,right up outside my house. *Luckily* we had anti-snap barrels and some other security fitted after the successful theft which meant after 7 odd minutes they had not gained entry. Something disturbed them and they left.
CCTV was useless as the burglar had a balaclava on and gloves. Police said its common for crims to do some surveillance and figure out when to visit.
The worse thing is my poor fiancee has really suffered mentally. She just doesn't feel like its "home" anymore.
I hope you get it sorted OP.
We too have gone for an ADT system (Just waiting for the engineers to come and fit it) which is monitored and increased other security. Ive got a disklok steering wheel cover and the antijam version of Tracker fitted. My CCTV on the second attempt got some smashing footage of the Vauxhall Insignia (Cloned plates and stolen from the next village up from us) Driving the scumbag who attempted to break in,right up outside my house. *Luckily* we had anti-snap barrels and some other security fitted after the successful theft which meant after 7 odd minutes they had not gained entry. Something disturbed them and they left.
CCTV was useless as the burglar had a balaclava on and gloves. Police said its common for crims to do some surveillance and figure out when to visit.
The worse thing is my poor fiancee has really suffered mentally. She just doesn't feel like its "home" anymore.
I hope you get it sorted OP.
Quick update for everyone who's interested.
Almost 48 hours later, and the car is simply gone. No trace whatsoever. No sightings or ANPR hits.
No-one is willing to pay the ~£900 bill for the recovery and re-keying of the Mini either, and the insurance company working for the BMW won't lend a replacement vehicle as it's not damaged. Brilliant. Luckily the local BMW and Mini garage have been amazing and sourced something for free at zero notice.
It's pretty scary how many people have had similar break-ins, but not that surprising I suppose with modern car security requiring crims to get keys in order to take the vehicle. Cheers for everyone sharing their stories.
Almost 48 hours later, and the car is simply gone. No trace whatsoever. No sightings or ANPR hits.
No-one is willing to pay the ~£900 bill for the recovery and re-keying of the Mini either, and the insurance company working for the BMW won't lend a replacement vehicle as it's not damaged. Brilliant. Luckily the local BMW and Mini garage have been amazing and sourced something for free at zero notice.
It's pretty scary how many people have had similar break-ins, but not that surprising I suppose with modern car security requiring crims to get keys in order to take the vehicle. Cheers for everyone sharing their stories.
OddCat said:
Gavia said:
Wings said:
No, just asking the obvious, why after stealing a high spec car, would one then drive around visually displaying the same stolen car’s number plates.
I’m still confused. Your story had two cars with the same plates on the same drive. How does that correlate with stealing one of the cars and then putting dodgy plates on it? Not being funny, I’m just not getting the point at all. I read this as person driving legitimate car followed home, for some unknown reason, by police only to find a car identical to their own, with the same number plate on their drive. Like me coming home to find a clone of my own car on my own drive....
Maybe this was some insurance fraud thing (one car insured covering two identical cars) but not sure how this is relevant to this thread ?
Lando said:
Quick update for everyone who's interested.
Almost 48 hours later, and the car is simply gone. No trace whatsoever. No sightings or ANPR hits.
No-one is willing to pay the ~£900 bill for the recovery and re-keying of the Mini either, and the insurance company working for the BMW won't lend a replacement vehicle as it's not damaged. Brilliant. Luckily the local BMW and Mini garage have been amazing and sourced something for free at zero notice.
It's pretty scary how many people have had similar break-ins, but not that surprising I suppose with modern car security requiring crims to get keys in order to take the vehicle. Cheers for everyone sharing their stories.
I hate to say it, but you’ll gradually accept that it’s gone amd then get giddy looking for a new car. I picked my new one up today and it’s on the drive boxed in with the bollards on drive and garden and that’s just Level 1 of 10 levels of security in placeAlmost 48 hours later, and the car is simply gone. No trace whatsoever. No sightings or ANPR hits.
No-one is willing to pay the ~£900 bill for the recovery and re-keying of the Mini either, and the insurance company working for the BMW won't lend a replacement vehicle as it's not damaged. Brilliant. Luckily the local BMW and Mini garage have been amazing and sourced something for free at zero notice.
It's pretty scary how many people have had similar break-ins, but not that surprising I suppose with modern car security requiring crims to get keys in order to take the vehicle. Cheers for everyone sharing their stories.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff